Burnaby Now February 23 2023

Help fuel new medical breakthroughs for kids and families in BC

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Advocate seeks

Citypark picked assite fornew school

Elementary school at Brentwood could be open by 2027-28 school year, district says

CorneliaNaylor cnaylor@burnabynow.com

Relief for overcrowded schools in Burnaby’s rapidly growing Brentwood neighbourhood is one step closer with the announcement of a site for a new elementary school

OnTuesday, the city and school district said a cityowned park at 4900 Dawson St. has been identified as the future location of the new school, which could be open by the 2027-28 school year

The new facility is aimed at taking the pressure off existing schools,

Continued on page 3

IN SUSPENSE: Misaki Nishikawa, 9, plays with a kendama during Family Day festivities

Saturday at Burnaby’s Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre

PHOTO JENNIFERGAUTHIER

Citynow

MansavedatcityrinktakesstorytoVictoria

Ken Carrusca advocates for CPR training,defibrillators after his heart stopped while playing hockey

CorneliaNaylor cnaylor@burnabynow com

It’s been five years since Ken Carrusca’s heart stopped during a hockey game at a Burnaby ice arena

This week, he is inVictoria to tell politicians about the reasons he’s still alive an automated external defibrillator (AED) and teammates who knew CPR Carrusca, who is now 55 years old, still gets emotional when he talks about how close his sons came to not having a dad five years ago, when he collapsed on the ice during an Adult Safe Hockey League game at Burnaby 8 Rinks

His teammates were terrified as he lay on the ice rigid, pulseless and not breathing, but one of them was an ex-para-

medic and started CPR, while someone else grabbed a nearby AED that shocked his heart back to life

Since being brought back from the brink of death, Carrusca has become an advocate for CPR training and getting AEDs into more places

He sits on the advisory board of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and was inVictoriaTuesday (Feb. 21) to make a presentation at an MLA luncheon put on by the foundation.

Heart and Stroke has hosted such events before, but COVID-19 has interrupted their efforts for the past few years

Carrusca presented a slide show about his experience and about Denise Giammaria, who pushed to have AEDs installed at 8 Rinks after her

fit, 35-year-old husband, Gianfranco, died there of a sudden cardiac arrhythmia during a hockey game in 2006

“I was actually just doing a dry run-through,” Carrusca said of his presentation, “and, I’ll tell you, it’s still emotional ” Heart and Stroke hopes meeting face-to-face with provincial legislators and sharing Carrusca’s story will raise awareness about the life-and-death importance of CPR training and AEDs

“Getting to see him and hear his story and hear about the time he’s had with his sons that he wouldn’t have gotten if he hadn’t been rescued, it really makes a difference,” said Robyn Jones-Murrell, senior vice-president ofWestern Canada Heart and Stroke “Without that, it just seems so abstract

You may not know anyone who’s had a cardiac arrest.

Of course, you think ‘Oh, that’s terrible,’ but you don’t really think about the actual person, so having him stand up there and tell his story is quite unbelievable Unfortunately, so often, it doesn’t end that way”

Jones-Murrell said the aim of the luncheon is to garner support for her foundation’s initiatives, including a new “gamified” CPR training program it plans to roll out in May

It all comes down to saving lives, according to Jones-Murrell, who noted the overall survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is still lower than 10 per cent.

“We want to see that go up,” she said “We want to see more people surviving from cardiac arrest That’s overall the big vision ”

Ideaoflocatingschoolatformerindustrialsitedatesbackto2007

Continued from page 1

according to the statement, and building one south of Lougheed Highway on Dawson Street will mean students no longer have to cross the busy highway to get to school.

The district estimates more than 400 students already live in the future school’s attendance area

“We are grateful to the City of Burnaby for their partnership in identifying a suitable location, and we look forward to working with the Ministry of Education and Child Care to secure the site and advance the project,” school board chair Bill Brassington said in the announcement

Mayor Mike Hurley said the new school will help the city get closer to its goal of creating a so-called

“15-minute city”

“By working with our partners at the Burnaby school district to identify a site for a future school, we’re taking another step towards ensuring families in Brentwood can access everything they need within a 15-minute walk,” he said

FORMER INDUSTRIAL SITE

The idea of putting a school at 4900 Dawson St has been around in city reports since at least 2007

That’s the year the city acquired the 3 19-acre former industrial site from developer Ledingham McAllister

Because the land had “especially poor soil conditions” making it “not conducive to building development,” according to a 2007 city report, the devel-

oper gave it to the city in exchange for extra density for a condo tower project now on the north side of Dawson Street where the soil conditions are better

As part of the deal, LedMac was required to turn the old industrial site into a park, including raising most of it to flood-proof elevation; rehabilitating and enhancing Stickleback Creek and a 30-metre riparian setback zone at the west and south side of the site; and landscaping

The property’s 2023 assessed value is $10,966,000, according to information on the city’s website.

700-STUDENT SCHOOL

Funding for a new Brentwood school was a top priority in the school district’s latest five-year capital plan, with the

board requesting just over $34 million to build a 415-student school

That request will be amended as the plan moves forward, according to school district secretary-treasurer Russell Horswill

For one thing, the district will now be requesting funding for a 715-student school to accommodate anticipated enrolment growth from a total of 10 condo towers planned in the area

Horswill said identifying a site for the new school is an essential step toward completing a project definition report, which will describe the school in enough detail (including the number of classrooms, how many storeys it will be and where it will be built on the property) to request provincial funding

Over the coming months, Horswill said the district will be working on the project definition report while also finalizing a purchase and sales agreement with the city

CHALLENGES

Before city council and the school board finalize the agreement, Horswill said the district will do its “due diligence” to identify any challenges with the property, including soil conditions, possible contamination and a riparian setback.

“We will need to do some civil work and make sure that we’re aware of what the soil conditions are,” Horswill said “But everything we’ve heard so far is that the soils near the road will be suitable to build on, but the soils down near the train tracks

are a little softer ”

The district has been told the former industrial site is not contaminated, but Horswill said the district will undertake its own measures to ensure it’s suitable for school and student use

The district and city will also work together to make sure Stickleback Creek is protected

FUTURE PARK

While the land chosen for the new school is currently right next to a large industrial site (the remains ofWoodlands or Dragonwood Industrial Estates), the Concord Brentwood masterplan calls for the creation of a 13-acre urban park on the other side of Stickleback Creek

If all goes to plan, the new school could open for the 2027-28 school year

REVIVED: Ken Carrusca recovers after a quadruple bypass operation in 2018. PHOTO SUBMITTED

Citynow

Manpinnedunderbus

Pedestrian sustains life-threatening injuries

ByCorneliaNaylor cnaylor@burnabynow.com

A man was taken to hospital with critical injuries after being pinned under a transit bus at a Burnaby transit loop Feb 16

Emergency crews were called to the Sperling-Burnaby Lake SkyTrain station just after 6 p m for reports of a pedestrian hit by a bus, according to MetroVancouverTransit Police Const. Amanda Steed

“First responders attended to the individual who was located trapped under the bus,” Steed said in an emailed statement

The man was transported to hospital with “serious, life-threatening injuries,” Steed said.

WhileTransit Police ini-

tially responded to the scene, Burnaby RCMP have now taken over the investigation

In a news release Friday, the detachment said the man had been walking near the bus loop when he was struck by a southbound transit bus turning into the loop

The bus driver is cooperating with police, ac-

cording to the release

“It was dark and raining at the time of the crash, but all contributing factors in this incident are still under investigation,” the release said.

Witnesses who haven’t yet spoken with police are asked to call Burnaby RCMP at 604-6469999 Quote file number 23-5590

Accident: Police were on scene at the Sperling-Burnaby Lake SkyTrain station last Thursday night after a man was pinned under a transit bus. PHOTO SHANE MACKICHAN

Jeff Zabudsky named president of BCIT, school announces City

JessBalzer

jfedigan@burnabynow com

The British Columbia Institute ofTechnology (BCIT) has chosen its new president.

The post-secondary institution has announced Jeff Zabudsky will assume

the position beginning on July 10, with Paul McCullough remaining interim president until Zabudsky takes over.

McCullough was named interim president following former president Kathy Kinloch’s retirement this past July

“With over 30 years of experience within post-secondary and polytechnic leadership roles, Dr. Zabudsky brings an exceptional skillset that will advance BCIT’s impact to our learners and the province of British Columbia,” BCIT board

of governors chair Dan Reader said in a news release

Zabudsky was most recently Provost for the American University of Bahrain in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

He has also served as the CEO of Bahrain Poly-

technic, president and vice-chancellor for Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in Oakville, Ontario and president and CEO of Red River College Polytechnic inWinnipeg, Manitoba

His educational back-

ground includes a PhD in educational policy studies from the University of Alberta, a master’s degree in distance education from Athabasca University and a bachelor of applied arts degree in broadcast journalism fromToronto Metropolitan University

Opinionnow

MY VIEW KEITH BALDREY

Defection raises possibility of split centre-right vote in B.C.

It has been decades since a provincial Conservative party in this province carried any heft on the political scene, so the defection of former BC Liberal MLA John Rustad to the Conservative Party of BC will likely have little short-term impact

However, Rustad’s decision has given his new party a shot in the arm that could translate into making trouble for his old party come the next provincial election

Then again, we could simply be watching a replay of the last time a former

BC Liberal MLA declared himself a BC Conservative

That was John van Dongen a dozen years ago, and his political career quickly flamed out and the party remained obscured in the political wilderness, where it has essentially been since before the Second World War

The BC Conservatives last elected an MLA almost 50 years ago, back in a 1978 byelection It was thought to have a fighting chance of winning at least one seat in the 2013 election, when the BC Liberals under then-

leader Christy Clark appeared to be in trouble

But the election gave Clark an impressive majority win, while the BC Conservatives received a mere 4.75 per cent of the vote

So, there is no reason to believe that Rustad’s move will breathe serious life into a party that has been going nowhere fast for almost 100 years (he had been sitting as an independent after being expelled from the BC Liberal caucus for disagreeing with the party’s climate-change

policies)

However, there is a big “but” attached to this analysis.

While it is highly unlikely the BC Conservatives will do well on a provincewide basis, the party has a chance of playing a critical role in the outcome of elections in several key ridings

In other words, the party can cause a “split” of the centre-right voter base that, if significant enough, could cause some normally “safe” BC Liberal ridings (as well as ridings the party narrowly

wins) to slide to the BC NDP side

That certainly happened in the 2020 election. In that contest, the BC NDP won four ridings with a victory margin that was less than the total votes received by BC Conservative candidates in those ridings

BC Conservative candidates may not only make it easier for the BC NDP to hang on to those four ridings, but they could also play a prominent role in the outcome of a handful of ridings where the BC Liberals

have won by narrow margins in recent elections: FraserNicola, Kamloops-North Thompson and SurreyWhite Rock.

The BC Liberals are in rebuilding mode and are about to change their name Things are already complicated enough for them Rustad’s move may be the last thing that party needs as it tries to become competitive again in the crucial regions of suburban Metro Vancouver

Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC

BURNABY NOW IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSMEDIA COUNCIL, WHICH IS AN INDEPENDENT

Opinionnow

There are two sides to green waste facility story

Editor: I recently read comments from residents in Burnaby regarding the GROW (Green Recycling Organic Waste) facility proposed for Fraser Foreshore Park and was disappointed to only see one side of the argument (the opposition) voiced.

As a Burnaby homeowner who lives near the park and often goes trail running along this proposed site, I thought I might offer some reasons why I’m not so quick to dismiss this project

While we can’t know the future with perfect certainty, it is extremely likely that Burnaby and the entire Metro Vancouver region will continue to grow in the coming decades The existing waste management infrastructure in the region is stretched to capacity, and solutions are needed now.

With respect and appreciation to my fellow Burnaby residents who suggest other waste facilities in other communities can handle our future waste we create in our Burnaby neighbourhoods, it might not be quite that easy Nor is it, in my mind, reasonable or ethical to expect Delta, for example, to continually be where all of our future growing organic waste ends up. Especially as the existing landfill there

is reaching capacity and is to be decommissioned in 2037

These types of arguments against the GROW facility are similar to arguments we often make about social housing or shelters “I agree we need more social housing, but just not in my neighbourhood!” but at some point local leaders need to step up and say, “Yes, this is needed, and we are going to take responsibility; we are going to build it here”

New organic waste options are needed for Burnaby, and somebody needs to take responsibility, and a facility needs to be built somewhere

Being green or caring about the environment is definitely about protecting parks and riparian ecosystems, but it is also about carbon capture and storage, diverting from landfills, and creating organic fertilizer from green organic waste for our yards and gardens in a growing city I support seeing the taxes I pay and a portion of my jogging route and, yes, a small portion of marshlands, go towards us taking responsibility for dealing with our own local waste Perhaps it might even encourage us to consume and waste less as we consider the immediate impacts of our own personal choices. Our waste is our problem, and as such we perhaps shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss proposals to deal with it here locally

Wes Regan

THE BURNABY NOW WELCOMES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. We do, however, edit for taste, legality and length Please include a phone number where you can be reached Send letters to: The Editor, #201A–3430 Brighton Ave , Burnaby, B C , V5A 3H4, email to: editorial@burnabynow com (no attachments please) or fax to: 604-444-3460 Letters to the editor and opinion columns may be reproduced on the Burnaby NOW website, www burnabynow com

CityConnect

Getting to know GRO

Burnaby’s Green Recycling and Organics (GRO) Facility

In 2019, at the urging of residents, the City of Burnaby declared a Climate Emergency Carbon emissions will have to be reduced dramatically and quickly—in order to reach the ambitious targets set by the City We know that bold actions must be taken by all of us if we are to become carbon neutral One way to do this is by capturing renewable energy

The GRO project will be one of the major steps Burnaby is taking to achieve our carbon reduction goals.

What is GRO?

The City is proposing a Green Recycling and Organics (GRO) facility in south Burnaby to strengthen our commitment to climate action and resilience GRO is about moving to a circular economy, where nothing goes to waste Our household organics would be processed to be used as renewable fuel—displacing fossil fuels— and rich compost.

Benefits include:

» reducing the equivalent of 14,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually (equal to taking 3,000 cars off the road)

» generating enough renewable natural gas (RNG) to heat up to 5,000 homes

» creating thousands of tons of rich organic compost for local gardens and farms

Where would GRO be located?

The proposed site is at 4800 Riverbend Drive next to Metro Vancouver’s Waste to Energy (WTE) facility Together, the City envisions these facilities forming a “Green Energy Hub” with a portion of the GRO building used for a District Energy Facility to take heat from the WTE facility to provide low-carbon heat to Burnaby homes.

Will there be odour?

No There won’t be any odour

All processing will happen inside a fully enclosed facility The facility will be under negative air pressure, meaning any odour generated would be captured and filtered before leaving the building

To advance this project, 8.43 hectares of parkland will need to be used

This site is located at the eastern edge of Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park in an area which has been left to naturalize since farming activities ended in the 1960s. Removing parkland is something the City takes seriously, and we are committed to ensuring an equal or greater amount of land will be made available for park use to offset the land used for GRO

Did you know?

Burnaby has more than 5,500 acres of parkland more than 25% of the city’s land area Since 1987, the city’s total parkland has grown by more than 30% Thanks to City actions and policies, this positive trend is continuing

Will there be habitat enhancement from this project?

As part of the project the City will provide environmental enhancement on an unprecedented scale We will create 3 times the amount of habitat that existed there before, both on and offsite We will create high-value habitat that is in short supply in the Fraser River basin.

The City would create:

» a new salmon-supporting tidal marsh

» new salmon-supporting tidal creeks

» enhanced forest habitat

Existing low-quality on-site fish habitat (drainage ditches) would be replaced with high-quality wetlands and habitat for juvenile salmon that continues to support wildlife species including birds, bats and amphibians.

CityConnect

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Burnaby City Council hereby gives notice that it will hold a Public Hearing to receive representations in connection with proposed amendments to “Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023 AT 5 PM

ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENTS

1) Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965, Amendment Bylaw No. 2, 2023 - Bylaw No. 14544

Rez #22-11

Unit #5 - 8063 North Fraser Way

From: CD Comprehensive Development District (based on M2 General Industrial and M5 Light Industrial Districts)

To: Amended CD Comprehensive Development District (based on M2 General Industrial and M5 Light Industrial Districts, and in accordance with the development plan entitled “New Mezzanine for Unit #5 - 8063 North Fraser Way” prepared by Zeidler Architecture)

Purpose: to permit a minor increase in interior floor area

Applicant: Zeidler Architecture

2) Burnaby Official Community Plan Bylaw 1988, Amendment Bylaw No 1, 2023 - Bylaw No 14545

Purpose: to amend the Official Community Plan (OCP) Sections on the Residential Framework, the Commercial Framework, the Industrial Directions and Framework, and Neighbourhood & District Parks to achieve consistency between the OCP and the Bainbridge and Lochdale Urban Village Community Plans

3) Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965, Amendment Bylaw No 3, 2023 - Bylaw No 14546

Text Amendment

Purpose: to amend the Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965 to define the Bainbridge and Lochdale Urban Village Community Plan areas and to add sub-districts to the RM2, RM3, RM4 and RM5 Districts to accommodate residential land uses and building forms supported in the Bainbridge and Lochdale Urban Village Community Plans

All persons who believe they are affected by a proposed bylaw shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard:

» SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS TO COUNCIL

• email: legislativeservices@burnaby ca

• mail: Mayor & Council, c/o Legislative Services, 4949 Canada Way

• fill out the webform: Burnaby.ca/PublicHearings

» PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON

» PARTICIPATE BY ZOOM OR WATCH LIVE Visit Burnaby ca/PublicHearings

Reports, bylaws, and related information respecting the zoning bylaw amendments are available on the City’s website at Burnaby ca/PublicHearings from February 8, 2023 Any questions regarding the Public Hearing processes and agenda items may be directed to Legislative Services, 604-294-7290.

Please note all submissions must be received by 2:45 pm on the day of the Hearing and contain the writer’s name and address which become a part of the public record

NO PRESENTATIONS OR SUBMISSIONS WILL BE RECEIVED BY COUNCIL AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.

N Best CORPORATE OFFICER

Citynow

Residentswant increasedpolicing afterfatalshooting

RCMP host community outreach session

CorneliaNaylor cnaylor@burnabynow com

Residents at a Burnaby housing complex where a 17-year-old was shot to death this month want to see an “increased police presence” in their neighbourhood

That was one of the messages Burnaby RCMP heard loud and clear at a neighbourhood outreach session at Lions Mulberry Place last week.

On Feb 2, police descended on the complex shortly before noon, after a 17-year-old boy who lived there was found shot to death in a vehicle in the underground parking garage Police believe the shooting was targeted, and the Integrated Homicide InvestigationTeam is investigating

‘TRAGIC INCIDENT’

On Feb 13, Burnaby RCMP hosted a Burnaby Neighborhood Incident Response Program (BNIRP) outreach session in the complex’s community space.

and how to process the traumatic incident and related anxiety

“We would like to thank everyone who came to this support session for sharing how this tragic incident has affected their community,” Burnaby RCMP Insp Kathy Hartwig said in the release. “We appreciate the engagement from residents and the opportunity to listen to concerns, answer questions, and to connect people with resources they may need ”

‘INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE’

About 40 people showed up, and one of the things they asked for was an “increased police presence” in their neighbourhood, according to Insp Peri Mainwaring, Burnaby RCMP’s officer in charge of community programs

“In response to this, we have started additional proactive patrols in the area, which includes officers from Burnaby RCMP’s bike section and community response team,” Mainwaring said in an emailed statement

will meet on Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 5pm in the Council Chamber, Burnaby City Hall The purpose of the panel is to approve new charges for Sewer Parcel and Local Areas Service Taxes in 2023

Property owners who provide advance written notice to the panel are given the opportunity to appeal against the Local Area Services Frontage and Sewer Parcel tax assessments for 2023

All impacted property owners will receive written notification of their assessment prior to this meeting

To have your appeal considered by the Panel, written notice outlining the reason(s) must be made by Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 5pm to: Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel c/o Tax Office: 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby BC V5G 1M2 604-294-7350 | Or by email to revenue services@burnaby ca

“The goal of a BNIRP session is to reach people that have been impacted by a major incident to help reduce trauma and connect people with available resources and supports,” stated a Burnaby RCMP news release about the event

The two-hour session at Mulberry Place featured speakers from IHIT, Burnaby RCMP’s youth section and the victim services unit

The topics covered included what resources are available through the detachment, how to talk to others about the shooting

Burnaby RCMP piloted its Burnaby Neighborhood Incident Response Program on March 30, 2021, after a woman’s body was found burning in Greentree Village Park by Garden Grove Drive

Because of COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time, the detachment hosted a Zoom meeting for area residents to discuss was happened and talk about their concerns Burnaby RCMP has since hosted a number of such sessions, after particularly traumatic incidents, including the death of a 14-year-old girl hit by a dump truck and two brazen deadly gang shootings

UBC Faculty of Dentistry

Citynow

UBC Dentistry is screening patients 12 years of age and older who require

UBC Dentistry is screening patients 7yearsofageandolderwhorequire

Braces

Braces

(Full orthodontic treatment cost: $4,200)

(Full orthodontic treatment cost: $1,000to$4,200)

For information, visit www.dentistry.ubc ca/gradortho

For information, visit wwwdentistryubcca/gradortho

Toarrangeascreeningappointment:

604-827-4991(12years&older)

604-827-0706(7to10yearsold)

604-827-4991

oremailgradorthoclinic@dentistryubcca

Burnaby’sBest SeniorLivingCommunity

We have openings, but not for long! Choose from our beautiful onebedroom suites that boast spectacular Northwest or Southeast views, modern compact kitchens and luxury plank flooring.

Our suites come packaged with our exclusive PARCActive Living™ program, including a well-equipped gym, along with classes, art and cultural programs, chef-prepared cuisine, an onsite Wellness Nurse, complimentary transportation and more You’ll find comfort and freedom combined – located in the lively urban hub of HighGate in Burnaby.

Act Now! These suite start at $4090 and won’t last!

Patioexpansions brewingincity

LaurenVanderdeen lvanderdeen@burnabynow com

It’ll be patio heaven this summer in Burnaby, as two local breweries are getting the green light to expand their patios

The City of Burnaby recently approved Dageraad Brewing and Studio Brewing for increased capacity, which will permanently extend the life of the patios they opened during COVID

Dageraad Brewing’s “chief executive janitor” and brewer Ben Coli told the NOW his brewery has been talking about building a patio at their tasting room at 114-3191 Thunderbird Cres. (a short walk from Production Way SkyTrain station) for years, but pre-COVID it was tough to get the permits

But during COVID, cities and the province began allowing temporary outdoor patios: “Basically, to keep us alive during COVID, when we weren’t allowed to have guests indoors,” said Coli.

As the temporary patio program comes to an end, the breweries sought a way to make the patios permanent

Dageraad’s occupancy will go from 50 guests to 100, with the approval of a 619 square feet permanent outdoor patio with seats for 50 guests

Coli said the increased capacity will help during the brewery’s busy periods after work

“It’s doubling – it

could make a really nice difference for our business in summertime,”

Coli said, though he added he doesn’t expect to hit the 100-person capacity

“We frequently have to have a lineup on a Friday after work, which is our busiest time, and this will just eliminate that.”

Dageraad is also planning to build a ”proper patio,” to upgrade the current setup which is made up of picnic tables in a parking lot under tents.

“We’re going to build a really nice patio, with a deck and with a wheelchair ramp, and just make a really nice, inviting outdoor space, and I’m really looking forward to that,” Coli said

He’s hoping the patio will be open in time for the brewery’s anniversary party in mid-May

Another local brewery is now celebrating its two-year anniversary and expanding its patio

Studio Brewing, at 5792 Beresford St , was approved to increase its occupancy from 48 patrons to 78 patrons, with seats for 30 guests on a 683 sq ft outdoor patio

Morgan Miller-Sutton, Studio’s taproom manager, described the patio as “well-loved” with a great community vibe.

“The community loves it,” she said

You can celebrate Studio’s two-year birthday bash on Saturday, Feb 25 with live music from 3 to 6 p.m.

Communitynow

Freecreativeprogramsforteensofferedatlibrary

The next few months are jam-packed with workshops on sewing,digital drawing,painting and more

LaurenVanderdeen lvanderdeen@burnabynow.com

Burnaby teens have no reason to be bored on their days off school.

Burnaby Public Library is hosting more than a dozen free programs for youth aged 13 to 19 in the next three months ranging from comic book drawing, to embroidery, to creating zines and folded books.

Responding to the recommendations and interests of local teens, the library scheduled its programming on weekends and professional development days when school is out, as well as during spring break.

The workshops will be in-person and online, with all in-person programs located at the library’s Tommy Douglas branch (7311 Kingsway), where a teen space recently opened.

All the programs and supplies are free including paints, brushes and a blank canvas, for the acrylic painting workshop, and iPads and Apple Pencils that can be borrowed for the digital drawing workshops

The workshops are part of the library’s ongoing series known as Julia’s Studio, offered throughout the year in memory of Julia Nelson, a teen services

librarian at BPL who was passionate about providing creative opportunities for young people, according to the library.

To register, email BPL’s teen services librarians at teenservices@bpl bc ca

For more information about teen programs in the city, including a teen advisory group and teen booklists, go to bpl.bc.ca/ people-help/bpl-for-teens.

CREATING ZINESAND FOLDED BOOKS

Friday, February 24 (Pro-D Day) from 1 to 3 p.m.

In-person atTommy Douglas.

Join artist Dawn Livera to learn techniques for creating folded books, zines, and ‘found poetry’ using collages of words and pictures.

BOTANICAL EMBROIDERY

Friday, February 24 (Pro-D Day) from 3 to 5 p.m.

In-person atTommy Douglas.

Join artist Dawn Livera to learn hand embroidery techniques for stitching botanical images

STITCHING EMBROIDEREDWORDS

Tuesday, March 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In-person atTommy Douglas

Join artist Dawn Livera and learn hand stitching techniques to create embroidered words.

SEWINGBASICS:CREATE ASCRAPPYFABRIC BIRD

Tuesday, March 14 from 1:30 to 3 p m

In-person atTommy Douglas.

Join artist Dawn Livera and learn basic sewing techniques to create scrappy fabric birds.

ONLINE DRAWING: LEARNTO DRAWCOMICS

Wednesday, March 15 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Held online on Zoom.

Join artist Kathleen Gros to learn techniques for drawing comics

ONLINEDRAWING: LEARNTODRAW CLOTHESFORCOMIC CHARACTERS

Friday, March 17 from 1:30 to 3:00 p m

Held online on Zoom.

Join artist Kathleen Gros to learn techniques for drawing fabric and clothes for comic characters

LANDSCAPEPAINTING

WITHACRYLICS

Friday, March 17 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. In-person atTommy Douglas.

Join artist Paddi McGrath to learn the stepby-step of using acrylics in landscape painting. Acrylic paint stains, and

from 4 to 5:30 p m

In-person, atTommy Douglas.

Join Janice Liu ofYoung Artists’ Place to learn the step-by-step of using watercolors to create images of birds

DIGITALDRAWING: DRAWING MANGA CHIBIS

Friday, March 24 from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

In-person, atTommy Douglas

Join Janice Liu ofYoung Artists’ Place to learn the step-by-step of drawing manga chibis digitally, in Procreate.

participants are encouraged to wear appropriate clothes or bring a smock to wear during the workshop

DIGITALDRAWING: DRAWINGMANGAFACES

Wednesday, March 22 from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

In-person atTommy Douglas

Join Janice Liu ofYoung Artists’ Place to learn the step-by-step of drawing manga faces digitally, in Procreate. The library provides iPads and Apple Pencils for participants to use in the workshop

STUDIESIN WATERCOLOUR: PAINTINGBIRDS

Wednesday, March 22

STUDIES IN WATERCOLOR: PAINTING FUNGI OFB.C.

Friday, March 24 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

In-person, atTommy Douglas.

Join Janice Liu ofYoung Artists’ Place to learn the step-by-step of using watercolors to create images of local fungi and mushrooms of B.C.

SPRINGTIME GREETING CARDS

Saturday,April 22 from 1:30 to 3 p m

In-person, atTommy Douglas.

Join us as we create greeting cards that feature papercraft designs inspired by nature and springtime

Creativecolour:Localteenscantakefreecreativeworkshops,includingoneonhowtomakethese paperartcards,attheBurnabyPublicLibrary.

PHOTOBURNABYPUBLICLIBRARY

Find

WEEKEND

WHEN: Saturday, Feb 25 from noon to 11 p m

WHERE: Studio Brewing (5792 Beresford St )

COST: No tickets needed

COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR WALK FOR HOMELESSNESS

The coldest night of the year statistically occurs in the third week of February, and Burnaby residents can walk to raise money for local charities serving people experiencing hunger and homelessness in the community Hosted by Burnaby Community Services and the Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby, the charities recommend wearing good waterproof shoes or boots, a warm coat and gloves and bringing a water bottle.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb 25, check-in opens at 4 p m

WHERE: Start at Marlborough Elementary School (6060 Marlborough Ave )

COST: Register at cnoy.org/register

BURNABY LYRIC OPERA

Come listen to these magnificent operas performed by Burnaby Lyric Opera, featuring some of the best young professional opera voices in the province

Enjoy the comic one-act opera, Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, which follows greedy relatives scheming over their late patriarch’s will who end up getting tricked out of their inheritance

Then it’s Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, a tragic tale of the suffering clown Canio.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb 25 at 8 p m (It also runs Monday, Wednesday and Thursday next week)

WHERE: Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (6450 Deer Lake Ave.)

COST: $35 adult, $30 seniors and students, tickets available through tickets shadboltcentre com

SUNDAY, FEB. 26

BLACK HISTORY WALK

This Saturday, join Ethiopian Affairs in B.C. as it hosts a walk to honour the achievements of Black Canadians This year will honour Canadian Olympian, sprinter Harry Jerome and also mark 127 years since

STUDIO BREWING TURNS TWO

It’s the two-year anniversary of Studio Brewing opening in Burnaby Head to this birthday bash with

the victory of Adwa, an important historical celebration of Ethiopia defeating a colonial invasion.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m.

WHERE: Swangard Stadium (3883 Imperial St ) COST: Free

live music from 3 to 6 p.m., new merch, food trucks, a bratwurst pop-up by Legends Haul and a lineup of fabulous lagers

ECO CENTRE TOUR: BURNABY FOR OUR KIDS

Learn how waste gets reused at a tour of Burnaby’s Eco Centre, hosted by For Our Kids Burnaby This family-friendly event is great for kids who want to learn more about the environment.

WHEN: Sunday, Feb 26 from 10 a m to noon

WHERE: Burnaby Eco Centre (4855 Still Creek Ave )

INFO: RSVP via email at burnaby@forourkids ca

Compiled by Lauren Vanderdeen

In observance: Black History Walk, marking Black History Month in Canada, will be held at Central Park in Burnaby on Saturday, Feb 25 PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Communitynow

LaurenVanderdeen lvanderdeen@burnabynow com

It’s one of the most beautiful venues in Metro Vancouver, and it’s going to host indie pop and altrock favourites this summer.

Burnaby’s Deer Lake will feature two big shows this summer:The National will play on June 5, then on Aug 25,Vance Joy will come to town

The National, originally hailing from Ohio, are on a world tour for their new album, FirstTwo Pages of Frankenstein, according to the band’s website The album is scheduled for release on April 28.

Many of the tour dates are sold out throughout the U S

The Grammy Award-winning band, known for its low-toned sounds, previously played at Deer Lake Park in 2019 In 2017, they played at Queen Elizabeth Theatre inVancouver

The National’s concert will have American singer-songwriter Soccer Mommy as a guest.

Less than three months later, andVance Joy (of “RipTide” fame) will take the stage with his In Our Own SweetTime tour.

Tour tickets for the Juno Award-nominated artist have been selling out

With upbeat, poppy hits that will have you dancing,Vance Joy will also bring alongVancouver’s own Dan Mangan and Canadian sing-

er-songwriter Ruby Waters

Both shows will take place outdoors rain or shine on Deer Lake’s stunning festival lawn

THE NATIONAL IN BURNABY

When: Monday, June 5, gates at 6 p m

Where: Deer Lake Park Festival Lawn

Cost: $85, including fees and taxes, tickets available online through Ticketmaster

VANCE JOY IN BURNABY

When: Friday, Aug. 25, gates at 6 p m

Where: Deer Lake Park Festival Lawn

Cost: $87 50, including fees and taxes Tickets available online through Ticketmaster

Sportsnow

Burnaby-basedfigureskater chosentorepresentCanada

JessBalzer jfedigan@burnabynow com

Aleksa Rakic will once again be representing his country on the world stage

The Burnaby-based figure skater has been tapped to compete in the 2023 World Junior Figure Skating Championships at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary from Feb 27 to March 5.

Rakic previously won the pre-novice B C provincial title, was the champion for novice Canadian Challenge, earned gold at the Canadian junior national in 2019 and represented Canada at the 2020Winter Youth Olympic Games in Switzerland, where he just missed the podium, finishing in fourth place

The Champs International Skating Centre of

Selected: Burnaby’s Aleksa Rakic will compete in the 2023 World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Calgary from Feb 27 to March 5 PHOTO CHAMPS INTERNATIONAL SKATING CENTRE OF BC

BC product also claimed silver at the 2022 Skate Canada Challenge in the senior men category

Rakic is coached by Joanne McLeod

This season, he earned top placement in Canada for junior men at the 2022 ISU Junior Grand Prix,

finishing seventh in Ostrava, Czechia, and fifth in Egna-Neumarkt, Italy

“It feels very exciting to be competing at my first junior worlds, but also an honour to be able to represent Canada at such an incredible event,” Rakic said

explore the Heights

Check out Burnaby Heights –a vibrant community full of amazing shops, renowned restaurants and friendly services… truly one of the best kept secrets of local gems!

LAWYERS

FLOORING

RESTAURANT

Some of life’s most important decisions require the upmost in expertise. Having served the community for over 60 years, Cobbett & Cotton has established itself as a trustworthy legal source providing top quality legal representation. Voted the Best of Burnaby by Burnaby Now readers for over 18 years, Cobbett & Cotton adopts a caring and respectful approach to bring about a resolution that suits you best

OPTICAL

Award winning wood flooring specialists, Casa Madera Floors offers one of the largest selections of Engineered Hardwood, Laminate, Cork and Vinyl Plank flooring in Burnaby Many product lines, colours and styles to choose from. Locally owned and operated for over 15 years. Burnaby’s A-list winner for favourite flooring store 7 years in a row

BAKERY

Eat lots, feel at home and have fun at Anton’s Pasta! Serving up enormous portions of delicious pasta for over 30 years, Anton’s is a Burnaby legend. Enjoy over 70 traditional and original pasta creations. Casual atmosphere, friendly staff and great food that will keep you coming back for more. OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER Anton’s looks forward to seeing you soon!

FUNERAL SERVICE

Celebrating 55 years of providing quality products and exceptional service for generations of families! At United Optical they keep pace in this fast-changing industry while always maintaining a personal touch. These local eyewear specialists feature a variety of lens options and brands to suit any need or task Personable, knowledgeable and professional staff always ready to help.

One of the most beloved neighbourhood favourites is The Valley Bakery, which has been serving delectable European baked goods in the Heights for over six decades. Using only the finest of ingredients, Valley Bakery’s selection is beyond compare. Try their delectable cakes, delicious cookies, fresh baked breads and seasonal favourites to name a few Voted Burnaby’s Best Bakery for over 20 years running!

Kearney’s is proud to be Burnaby’s only Canadian family-owned, independent funera service provider They are conveniently located, enabling their knowledgeable and caring staff to serve those in the community who have experienced a loss. From traditional funerals to celebrations of life, burial and cremations and pre-planning Kearney Funeral Services will help you and your family say goodbye to your loved ones with dignity and care. No matter what your need, they will help you at every step.

JessBalzer

jfedigan@burnabynow com

Non-profits in Burnaby and NewWestminster are among 49 set to receive provincial funding for capital projects

MOSAIC (the Multilingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities) is getting a $250,000 boost to enhance and expand services by creating a new multi-service centre next to one of its current offices

The project will include a full renovation and construction of the 4,300 sqft office space

“Burnaby is one of the most diverse municipalities in our province that’s close to 60 per cent of residents being immigrants,

especially Burnaby-Edmonds, (which) has one of the highest concentrations of immigrant and refugee households,” MOSAIC CEO Olga Stachova said at a news conference today (Feb. 17).

“That is why it’s so important that accessible, physical service locations with a wide range of social and community supports are available right in this area.

“Everything is getting more expensive,” Stachova added

“We all see costs the rising cost of rent, the cost of construction, material costs of infrastructure and not-for-profits find it increasingly more challenging to be able to afford to operate physical service locations in municipalities,

especially close to transit, and transit helps So it’s amazing to have this location right here, a multi-ser-

vice location that will be supporting immigrants or refugees of all ages through a wide range of services ”

Meanwhile,Westminster House Society received $184,027 to construct a new admissions office to

replace its existing office

The organization also hopes to provide better triage services to the vulnerable populations that it serves

The project includes a private counselling office and food storage for the dining hall

“We love our communities.This capital project funding supports not-forprofit organizations that work to create vibrant and healthy communities,”

Burnaby-Deer Lake MLA

Anne Kang, B C ’s minister of municipal affairs, said in a news release

“Through Community Gaming Grants, we help ensure not-for-profit organizations can continue to provide the vital services people in the province depend on ”

Jason M Lyndhurst Elementary, Grade 7

AS WE AGE Celebrating Seniors

Workstartsonaffordablerentalunitsforseniors

JessBalzer

jfedigan@burnabynow

com

More seniors in Burnaby will soon have access to affordable housing.

The city, province, Dania Society and BC Housing have partnered to build a new six-storey development at 4277 Norland Ave. featuring 155 homes, including 154 one-bedroom units and one studio unit

All units will be adaptable or accessible, and it’s expected the building will be complete early in 2025

Rents are projected to range from $375 to $1,400 per month, depending on unit size and tenant income

“Many of these units

will be offered with deep subsidies, which will ensure seniors on a fixed income can afford to enjoy their lives right here in Burnaby,” Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said at a groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 11.

“One of the most heartbreaking things we heard from residents during the mayor’s task force on community housing was that seniors will be priced out of our city Imagine that you live your whole life somewhere, give back to the community and raise your family, and then you have to leave once you retire

“That’s unacceptable And that’s why this project is so important ”

The province, through BC Housing, is funding $17 million of the project through the Building BC: Community Housing Fund and will also provide a yearly operat-

ing subsidy of roughly $946,000

“These 155 homes will provide seniors the opportunity to stay and age in place,” B C Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said

at the ceremony “(It) will also help build the community here and make the social fabric of this community even stronger.”

The City of Burnaby is

also providing a grant of approximately $1 6 million from its Community Benefit Bonus Affordable Housing Reserve.

“I know it’s taken time to get here. But now it’s all coming together,” Hurley said.

The Dania Society, which also operates three other seniors housing residences, will own and operate the new facility

The society initially purchased the 1 7-hectare property at the corner of CanadaWay and Norland Avenue in 1941 and built Dania Home, a retirement home for Danish seniors, in 1944

A new Dania Home was opened at the location in 2015

Rents at development projected to range from $375 to $1,400,depending on unit and renter’s income

Underway: Artist’s rendering of the new six-storey development that will provide 155 units of affordable rental housing to seniors in Burnaby PHOTO BCHOUSING

AS WE AGE Celebrating Seniors

B.C.housing ministers have long noted that grant assists seniors,but some are questioning its necessity

GraemeWood

gwood@glaciermedia ca

Has a property-tax rebate for B C homeowners passed its best-before date?

Approaching $1 billion annually, the B.C. homeowner grant refunds a portion of property taxes to most owners of principal residences.

However, as home values continue to rise, there are renewed calls to cancel, or amend, the grant and redistribute the money to affordable-housing projects or other housing-related subsidies

The homeowner grant was created in 1957 by W A C Bennett to pro-

vide property-tax relief for principal residences The grant has persisted since then, and the prospect of terminating it has long been considered “political suicide” for politicians.

Economist Marc Lee of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives calls the grant “a pointless tax reduction to those with the privilege of home ownership,” and says it should be cancelled or at least redistributed in an income-tested form

“The people who don’t own homes are the most at risk and most vulnerable in our society I think that’s the area of the market where we are most concerned about in terms of public policy, and yet

we don’t provide any equivalent,” said Lee

Another idea, said Lee, is to take all or a large portion of the grant money and redistribute it to affordable housing projects

Lee thinks doing so is no longer political suicide given how real estate has become the primary driver of wealth in the province.

“I think if you took that money and said, ‘Well, we’re going to spend it all

on developing non-market or social housing and addressing homelessness,’ I think people would probably buy that ” Vancouver-based real estate developer Michael Geller is typically critical of property taxes that affect housing affordability, but says the grant is unnecessary for most recipients, and, given the state of homelessness and lack of affordable housing, the funds can easily be diverted

“This is one [grant] that’s outlived its usefulness I do sympathize with those who are renting and [see] grants going to homeowners,” said Geller Housing for low-income individuals is needed, in particular, said Geller, who estimates it costs about $500,000 per fully subsidized unit So, a four-year political term would fully fund about 7,200 homes with the redistributed grant

Provincial housing ministers have long defended the grant, noting it assists seniors although, as Lee and Geller both note, property taxes can be deferred by seniors (over age 55) and the deferments are clawed back from the

equity upon sale or transfer Families with children can also defer property taxes.

In an interview with Glacier Media this month, Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon defended the grant but suggested his government is considering changes.

“It supports a lot of seniors, and certainly, in the future, we’ll have to look at it.We have to find ways to ensure that it’s supporting the people who need the support the most,” said Kahlon

From 2018 to 2021, homelessness increased 11.5 per cent, according to BC Housing’s 2020/21 report on homeless counts in B C

“It supports a lot of seniors, and certainly, in the future, we’ll have to look at it.”

AS WE AGE Celebrating Seniors

With taxation, politicians should ‘do no harm’

DoreenMarionGee

Glacier Media

If our federal and provincial governments spent as much time supporting low-income seniors as they do designing new ways to inflict more hardship in their lives, there would be more elders leading longer independent lives and fewer ending their days in long-term care

And when one government initiative actually cancels the good work done by another, seniors pay the price The result is perpetual poverty for low-income elders, with no hope of ever getting ahead

Seniors received their federal Old Age Security payments on Jan 27, a five-week stretch from the last payment on Dec 21, putting a severe strain on older men and women already hurting from record-breaking inflation

This inhumanity from Ottawa is easily averted by implementing a more reasonable schedule of payments

Unfortunately, it is always the most vulnerable people directly affected by these ill-conceived decisions who are hurt the most

It is preposterous and beyond comprehension that some programs are acting against and sabotaging others, nullifying their

positive impacts to senior citizens, all within the confines of one bureaucracy, the Canada Revenue Agency.

I recently received a form letter from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp about the “onetime top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit” initiative that is administered by Canada Revenue Agency

The $500 payment “aims to help lower-income renters with the cost of rent,” but only if their income is $20,000 or lower (for singles) But here is the deal-breaker: The ruthless actions of the same CRA ensure that I do not qualify

Since 2018, the CRA has been demanding that low-income seniors declare anti-poverty benefits and subsidies as “income” on their tax returns. Each year, they add more to the list seemingly hellbent on making seniors’ lives as hard as possible.

First of all, it was the B C bus pass subsidy, then they added the B C Seniors’ Supplement Last year, I learned that the CRA wanted me to declare my housing subsidy, B C Housing’s Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) grant

These amounts are not taxable, but I end up losing a lot more: they falsely raise my income, disquali-

fying me from the incometested $500 housing benefit that I desperately need. Using one housing subsidy to cancel another one? Seniors are merely pawns in this Machiavellian conflict of interest within the CRA Supplements and subsidies are not “income” streams as opposed to employment or pensions and should be exempt from any declaration on income tax.They ensure that elders are housed and have transportation.

Manipulating them to take things away from seniors, keeping us impoverished and in need, is unconscionable and cruel Anything that is incometested is under the axe The destructive fallout of these new CRA tax policies goes far and wide I have already lost my entire B C Tax Credit, enough for a week of food.

Other valuable and beneficial programs that are suddenly inaccessible to seniors are private housing programs that offer subsidies based on income and legal assistance programs for financially eligible low-income citizens The human cost of these ruthless tax policies is terrible.

The physicians’ credo, “Do no harm,” should inform government programs for seniors.

All legislation and pol-

icies that cause unnecessary hardship to elders should be axed. But only a public inquiry and investigation into the activities of all branches within Canada Revenue Agency

and their associations with B C government ministries will hold politicians accountable to the elders they serve.

The people who implement public policies that

affect seniors’ lives must be held responsible for any negative consequences to those precious lives

Doreen Marion Gee is a seniors’ advocate who lives onVancouver Island.

Obituaries

Obituaries

SIMS,

February 19, 1945 - February 7th, 2023

E ven was born n Reading, England, February 19, 1945 He was named after his Dad Elven who was k l ed n the Second World War, five months before he was born He and h s mother came to Canada when Elven was two They first vis ted Man toba, farm country where his Dad grew up They then sett ed in New Westm nster, B C , where Elven ived the rest of his ife

E ven was always busy with many pro ects He oved h s flower garden and was an artist, pa nt ng beautifu mountain scenes and landscapes He oved music, the symphony and azz He was good at fixing th ngs and carpentry n h s home Where he had lived from the age of two unti h s passing H s l fe work was w th the Land Tit es Office in New Westm nster, where several of his co-workers became lasting friends A very smart man He was always nterested in other peop e and the th ngs happen ng n the r da ly ives He was so very kind and car ng He was very c ose to h s dog Kobo, who sadly passed away from cancer

In later years he gallantly fought severa i lnesses and passed away February 7th 2023 12 days shy of h s 78th birthday

He s survived by h s wife Lea, sister and brothern-laws; Joan and Lance, Jim, John and Gwen and severa wonderful nieces and nephews

We w l miss him and h s wonderful smile very much!

A memorial serv ce for E ven w ll be he d on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 11:30am at Hoy Trnity Cathedra, 514 Carnarvon St, New Westm nster, with unch to fol ow in the r ha l Internment for Elven’s ashes w l be March 21, 2023 at 1:00pm at Boal Chape Memorial Gardens, 1505 Lilooet Rd, North Vancouver, BC

RYAN (nee Jones), Marilyn

August 3, 1944 February 5, 2023

Marilyn passed away in Burnaby, where she lived her whole life. Predeceased by her husband, John, and son in law, Tom. Survived by her two children, Angela and Johnny (Meghan); grandchildren John, Alex and Keira; and two sisters, Priscilla and Larraine.

Celebration of Life: Saturday, February 25,

REMEMBRANCES HOME SERVICES

604-362-0586

Elven